Rock History

On this day...

2010 – Welcome news for Van Halen fans: The clearest signs that an album and tour are in the works — 2010 – Welcome news for Van Halen fans: The clearest signs that an album and tour are in the works for next year have emerged. While the webosphere has bantered rumors [...]

2007 – Jennifer Lopez won $545,000 (£267,257) in a case against her first husband — 2007 – Jennifer Lopez won $545,000 (£267,257) in a case against her first husband, who planned to publish a book claiming she had several affairs. Lopez claimed Ojani Noa had [...]

2007 – Amy Winehouse cancelled a series of European shows after being admitted to hospital — 2007 – Amy Winehouse cancelled a series of European shows after being admitted to hospital suffering from “severe exhaustion”. The 23-year-old singer was taken to University College London Hospital and [...]

2006 – Shakira played the first date on the North American leg of her 99 — 2006 – Shakira played the first date on the North American leg of her 99 date Oral Fixation world tour at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. Be Sociable, [...]

2006 – At a press conference at the United Nations… — 2006 – At a press conference at the United Nations Def Jam president Jay-Z announces that he will trek to several countries plagued by the world’s water crisis for the [...]

2005 – Marc Cohn survived being shot in the head during an attempted car jacking — 2005 – Marc Cohn survived being shot in the head during an attempted car jacking as he left a concert in Denver, Colorado. Cohn was struck in the temple by [...]

2005 – The Magic Numbers walked out of an appearance on UK music show Top — 2005 – The Magic Numbers walked out of an appearance on UK music show Top of the Pops after presenter Richard Bacon said the band had been put in a [...]

2003 – Hanson kick off their acoustic tour of the U.S., playing songs from their as-yet-unreleased fifth album. — 2003 – Hanson kick off their acoustic tour of the U.S., playing songs from their as-yet-unreleased fifth album. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – The Who’s Roger Daltrey once hoped he’d die before he got old. — 2003 – The Who’s Roger Daltrey once hoped he’d die before he got old. Now that he is old, he’s making his L.A. stage debut playing Dr. Doolittle in My [...]

2002 – Alicia Keys is the big winner at the second… — 2002 – Alicia Keys is the big winner at the second annual Chart Toppers R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, walking away with four honors from the event staged at Miami’s Chart Topperslive. In [...]

1999 – Spice Girls manager Bob Herbert was killed in a car crash in Windsor, England — 1999 – Spice Girls manager Bob Herbert was killed in a car crash in Windsor, England. Herbert was behind the formation of The Spice Girls and Five and had managed [...]

1999 – Bob Herbert, who formed the Spice Girls and… — 1999 – Bob Herbert, who formed the Spice Girls and teen group Five, dies in a car accident in London. He is 57. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – Elvis Week begins in Memphis to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis — 1997 – Elvis Week begins in Memphis to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death on August 16. Elvis Week 2008 Event Calendar & Ticket Information Saturday, August 9 – Sunday, [...]

1996 – The Ramones split. — 1996 – The Ramones split. The Ramones are often considered to be the first punk rock group of the 80′s. They are an American Rock band and the band was formed [...]

1995 – Jerry Garcia guitarist and singer from The Grateful Dead died from — 1995 – Jerry Garcia guitarist and singer from The Grateful Dead died from a drugs-related heart attack at the Serenity Knolls rehabilitation clinic in San Francisco aged 53. Garcia co-founded [...]

1995 – Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia… — 1995 – Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia dies of a heart attack at a drug treatment center in San Francisco. He is 53. The Grateful Dead came out of the [...]

1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Still Have… — 1987 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” U2. The album “The Joshua Tree” is U2′s first top 10 album in the [...]

1985 – On TV tonight, you can watch the premiere of The Motown Review, — 1985 – On TV tonight, you can watch the premiere of The Motown Review, hosted by Smokey Robinson. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – Abba tops the British singles chart with “The Winner Takes It All.” — 1980 – Abba tops the British singles chart with “The Winner Takes It All.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1980 – A thief steals 10 Gerald Scarfe illustrations based on Pink Floyd’s The Wall — 1980 – A thief steals 10 Gerald Scarfe illustrations based on Pink Floyd’s The Wall album. The pictures were exhibited in the foyer of London’s Earls Court, where the band [...]

1978 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Three Times … — 1978 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Three Times a Lady,” Commodores. Band member Lionel Richie was inspired to write the song at a 37th anniversary party for his [...]

1978 – Muddy Waters performs for President Jimmy Carter at the White House. — 1978 – Muddy Waters performs for President Jimmy Carter at the White House. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1975 – Major Promoter Don Kirshner, holds the first Rock Music — 1975 – Major Promoter Don Kirshner, holds the first Rock Music Award Show in Santa Monica, Calif.  Amoung the winners include the Eagles, Bad Company, and Stevie Wonder. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1973 – Guitarist Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell leave Wings. — 1973 – Guitarist Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell leave Wings. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1967 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ set at England’s Sunberry Jazz and Blues Festival inspires such — 1967 – Jerry Lee Lewis’ set at England’s Sunberry Jazz and Blues Festival inspires such fervor in the audience that the organizers tell him to cut his set short. Be Sociable, [...]

1967 – Baroque singer/songwriter J.C. Hopkins, whose work has been likened — 1967 – Baroque singer/songwriter J.C. Hopkins, whose work has been likened to Brian Wilson and Charles Ives, is born. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Silkie record a cover of the Beatles’ “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love — 1965 – The Silkie record a cover of the Beatles’ “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.” But they get a little help. Paul McCartney plays guitar, George Harrison plays [...]

1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Got You Ba… — 1965 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “I Got You Babe,” Sonny & Cher. The song, which sells more than 1 million copies, is the duo’s only No. 1 [...]

1964 – In Forest Hills, N.Y., Joan Baez and Bob Dylan play the same bill for the first time. — 1964 – In Forest Hills, N.Y., Joan Baez and Bob Dylan play the same bill for the first time. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – Singer Whitney Houston is born in New Jerse… — 1963 – Singer Whitney Houston is born in New Jersey, the daughter of singer Cissy Houston and cousin of Dionne Warwick. Her first seven solo singles go top five on [...]

1962 – Robert Zimmerman has his name legally changed to Bob Dylan. — 1962 – Robert Zimmerman has his name legally changed to Bob Dylan. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1959 – Pioneer of the rap genre, Kurtis Blow, is b… — 1959 – Pioneer of the rap genre, Kurtis Blow, is born Curtis Walker in New York. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1955 – Benjamin Orr, bassist with the Cars, is born in Cleveland. He also sang the lead vocal — 1955 – Benjamin Orr, bassist with the Cars, is born in Cleveland. He also sang the lead vocal on one of their biggest hits, “Drive.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1954 – Pete Thomas, drummer with Elvis Costello’s Attractions, is born — 1954 – Pete Thomas, drummer with Elvis Costello’s Attractions, is born this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1946 – Golden Earring bassist and keyboardist Rinus Gerritsen is born in the — 1946 – Golden Earring bassist and keyboardist Rinus Gerritsen is born in the Hague, Netherlands. The Dutch group’s biggest hit was 1983′s “Twilight Zone.” Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1944 – A drummer with one of the best names in rock music, Viv Prince — 1944 – A drummer with one of the best names in rock music, Viv Prince, is born in Loughborough, England. He played with beat combo the Pretty Things. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1941 – Producer Willie Henderson, whose work includes “Funky Chicken, Part 1,” is born in Chicago. — 1941 – Producer Willie Henderson, whose work includes “Funky Chicken, Part 1,” is born in Chicago. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1939 – Detroit Spinner Billy Henderson is born in Indianapolis — 1939 – Detroit Spinner Billy Henderson is born in Indianapolis this day in rock history! Be Sociable, Share! [...]